Daniel Olbrychski Movies

One of the most important figures in the Polish cinema, director Andrzej Wajda, teams up with the nation's most famous filmmaking expatriate, Roman Polanski, in this light comedy based on a perennially popular stage farce by Aleksandr Fredo. Czesnik (Janusz Gajos) and Rejent (Andrzej Seweryn) are the combative scions of two prominent families fallen on hard times, both of whom have the poor fortune of having homes which share a common courtyard. Czesnik's niece Klara (Agata Buzek) has fallen in love with Waclaw (Rafal Krolikowski), Rejent's son. However, Rejent has promised his son to Podstolina (Katarzyna Figura), a beautiful widow who has attracted Czesnik's eye. Meanwhile, Papkin (Roman Polanski), a former nobleman short on both cash and courage, hopes to wed Klara, but as a neutral party in the feud between the two clans, Klara thinks she might be able to use Papkin for her own purposes to bring her together with Waclaw. A major box-office hit in Poland, Zemsta marked the first time Wajda and Polanski had worked together since Pokolenie in 1952. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A young man faces a series of complicated choices about love, family, and politics in this epic drama based on the acclaimed novel by Stefan Zeromski, one of Poland's most heralded authors. Cezary Baryka (Mateusz Damiecki) is a young man coming of age in Baku in 1914. Baryka wants to study engineering and has fallen in love for the first time, but as he tries to balance his romantic longings and his intellectual pursuits, the Russian Revolution explodes, and soon the girl Baryka loves has become a casualty of the fighting, as well as his mother and several of his friends. Shattered, Baryka follows his father's advice and flees to Poland, where he becomes involved with the Bolsheviks; while fighting with their forces, he saves the live of a close friend, who invites him to live off his family's estate after the war. Baryka takes his friend up on the offer, but when Baryka falls in love, he discovers he has a rival for her affections, which threatens to once again turn his life upside down. A major box-office success in Poland, Przedwiosnie was released in two forms -- a 138-minute cut that was distributed to theaters and a five-hour miniseries for television broadcast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda adapts a nationally treasured epic poem to the silver screen. For 400 years, Lithuania and Poland were linked, until the country was partitioned in 1795 by aggressive nations at its borders -- Russia, Prussia, and the Austrian empire. At that point, the formerly huge nation simply ceased to exist. Yet one hope remained for the patriotic Poles yearning for autonomy -- France. Napoleon promised to restore the Polish homeland if they, in turn, helped him defeat Russia. Thousands of Poles were part of the French force that reached the gates of Moscow before being forced into a long and bloody retreat. The film itself centers on two families who live in the Russian-controlled part of Poland: the Horeszkos, who ardently favor independence, and the Soplicas, who support Russia. In 1792, the last household lord of the Horeszkos was killed by Jacek Soplica; as a result, the latter was rewarded with the former's castle by the Russian colonizers. Twenty years later, the region is rife with rumors of Napoleon's imminent invasion. A destitute Count (Marek Kondrat) and heir to the Horeszko family estate almost throws his lot in with the richer and more powerful Soplica clan before he stumbles upon Gervais (Daniel Olbrychski), who reminds him of the treacherous murder of his ancestor. Meanwhile, Tadeusz (Michal Zebrowski), the rakish nephew of Judge Soplica (Andrzej Seweryn), who symbolizes all that is good and right about Poland, is confronted with a choice upon returning from university. He can either give his heart to the beautiful, pure, 14-year-old Sosia (Alicja Bachleda-Curus), a distant cousin of the Horeszkos who is living with the Soplicas, or he can opt instead for the worldly, sophisticated, St. Petersburg-educated Telimena (Grazyna Szapolowska), who is related to both clans. This film, which in many ways sums up Wajda's long and illustrious career, was a massive success in its native Poland. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

A lavish historical epic that (on a budget of $8.5 million) was the most expensive Polish film ever at the time of its release, Ogniem I Mieczem/With Fire and Sword is based on a classic Polish novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz concerning political and social turmoil from 1647 to 1649. Cossacks are waiting to strike Poland on the Eastern border that neighbors the Ukraine, the nearby Tartars and Turks are waiting for the opportunity to attack Europe, and the Polish ruling class is busy feuding among themselves. A daring Pole named Jan Skrzetuski (Michal Zebrowski), meanwhile, is vying for the hand of beautiful Helena Kurcewicz (Izabella Scorupco, best known for her role in the James Bond film Goldeneye), against heavy competition from Ukranian Bohun (Alexandr Domogarov), to whom she is already engaged. Helena's aunt and guardian, however, cancels the wedding plans, and an enraged Bohun attempts to kidnap her. One of Jan's associates, Zagloba (Krysztof Kowalewski), foils the plot and whisks her away to the Castle of Bar, but Bohun is not to be denied; he storms the castle, taking Helena and leaving Jan and his men to find her, just as the Cossacks and the Tartars have joined forces to sack the nation. Ogniem I Mieczem/With Fire and Sword was the first in a trilogy of novels by Sienkiewicz, but, ironically, was the last to be filmed by director Jerzy Hoffman. The final book in the series, Colonel Wolodyjowski, was adapted for the screen by Hoffman in 1969, while the second, The Deluge, appeared in 1974. A low-budget Italian version of With Fire and Sword was released in 1961. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this German drama a middle-aged physicist experiences a vision at a class reunion and with the help of a young female student, sets out across the Himalayas to find the lost island of Atlantis. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this thriller a man attempts to honor his dying mother's mysterious final wish. Upon her deathbed, Felician's mother asks him to deliver a Bible to an old friend. Unfortunately, the friend is missing. Felician continues his quest and winds up in a village headed by Geza, a mobster. The village also contains a strange hospital managed by a frightening religious cult. Felician battles with Geza's henchmen and is captured by a pseudo priest. He then mysteriously disappears. Now it is up to his 13-year old daughter to solve the mystery and honor her grandmother's request. En route she encounters some hair raising obstacles. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Most of the characters in this romantic drama are waiting for something. Jeanne (Clementine Celarie) is waiting for her husband Francois (Daniel Olbrychski) to return; he abandoned her and their son Christophe (Gregoire Colin) a couple of years ago. The boy is waiting for his father, too. Meanwhile, Jeanne's current lover Marcel (Jean-Paul Lillienfeld) is waiting for her to come to her senses about the cad who went a way, and recognize the worthiness of his love for her. Finally, the absent husband is also waiting for the right time to make his belated reappearance. All this takes place near the gas station Jeanne runs in a dessicated and remote region in southern France. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide